Zipper

ABSTRACT

A zipper with features which simplify the engaging and disengaging of the co-operating interlocking elements of the zipper. The movable stringer of the zipper is provided with a male element which co-operates with a female element on the fixed stringer of the zipper to simultaneously seat and lock the movable member for engagement or disengagement of the cooperating interlocking elements on the adjacent edges of the stringers.

United States Patent 1 1 Carver, Jr. Dec. 4, 1973 4] ZIPPER 2,302,339 11 1942 Morin 24 205.11 R

l 4 [75] Inventor: William M. Carver, Jr., Lombard, Eggs? 3 E I. [73] Assignee: Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 735,792 11/1932 France 24/205.11 R

UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1931 Norton 24/205.1l 2,027,708 1/1936 Seaver..... 24/205.11 1,984,378 12/1934 Manson 24/205.] 1 2,054,880 9/1936 Legat 24/205.11 2,114,747 4/ 1938 Murphy 24/205.1 1 2,203,005 6/1940 Wittenberg 24/205 .1 1

Primary ExaminerBemard A. Gelak Attorney-Nathan N. Kraus et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A zipper with features which simplify the engaging and disengaging of the co-operating interlocking elements of the zipper. The movable stringer of the Zip- I per is provided with a male element which co-operates 2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures ZIPPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a zipper adapted to be completely separated at both ends and, more particularly, to a zipper which greatly simplifies engagement or disengagement of the interlocking elements of the zipper by a young child or a person who does not have great flexibility or movement of his hands.

It is well known in the zipper art that among the many types of zippers are two types which an individual encounters almost on a daily basis. The first is the skirt or trouser type of zipper which has the ends of the zipper firmly secured together which of course provides only a partial opening in the garment. The second type, and this is the type that this invention is concerned with, is the one that is found usually in overcoats and sweaters and the like. This type of zipper has ends which can be separated so that the garment can be completely opened and readily removed. This type of zipper is especially difficult for a young child of perhaps 3 or 4, or older, to operate because the slide of the zipper taken in conjunction with the proper placement of the movable stringer with respect to the fixed stringer located on the garment seems never to be exactly in the right position for zipping up the garment. In addition, the zipper of this invention has application to those older people who might have arthritis or similar types of infirmities wherein the finger dexterity of the user is limited.

In the prior art, various means have been suggested for securing zippers. These include those types of devices wherein the zipper slide has some type of means, for example, magnetic means, associated with the slide of the zipper which co-operates with other portions of the zipper tomate the slide or hold it in contact with the other end of the zipper. However, the basic problem, especially to a young child, is not the problem of having the zipper slider in the right position but the problem is one of actually seating the movable end of the zipper into the fixed end of the zipper. My invention therefore includes a different approach which will provide improved performance by, for example, a young child in securing the zipper while he is putting on the garment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved zipper so that the zipper can be used significantly more easily and with less difficulty than existing zippers especially by young children or those that do not have the finger dexterity required to seat a zipper in an outer coat or similar type of garment.

As will become apparent in the detailed description of my invention which follows, my zipper prevents improper use by the user by virtue of a feature which simultaneously seats and locks the movable end of the zipper into position with the fixed end of the zipper so that the zipper is in the proper operating position for engagement or disengagement of the co-operating interlocking elements on the adjacent edges of the zipper stringers.

Therefore, the present invention provides a zipper adapted to be completely separated at both ends which comprises, in combination: (a) a pair of stringers having co-operating interlocking elements on their adjacent edges, one of said stringers being fixed in position while the remaining stringer is movable with respect thereto; (b) a slider located on said fixed stringer having diverging channels suitable for engaging and disengaging said interlocking elements of said pair of stringers; (c) a member adjacent the end of said fixed stringer to retain said slider on said stringer and to position said pair of stringers in operating position; (d) projecting means adjacent the end of such movable stringer to co-operate with said fixed stringer member; (e) a male element adjacent the bottom most edge of said movable stringer; and (f) a female element laterally depending from said member adjacent the end of said fixed stringer and adapted to lockably accept said male element whereby said projecting means adjacent the end of said movable stringer after being guided through said slider on said fixed stringer is then simultaneously seated into said member adjacent the end of said fixed stringer and locked into operating position for engagement or disengagement of said co-operating interlocking elements on said adjacent edges of said stringer.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when the same is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of my zipper;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the zipper shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the zipper of this invention according to a preferred embodiment thereof;

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are plan views showing the zipper of FIG. 1 during the sequence of seating and locking the zipper by the user; and,

FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively, are sectional views taken on lines 8-8 and 99 of FIG. 4.

Referring now generally to the drawings, the numerals l and 2 indicate, generally, the pair of stringers which have co-operating interlocking elements 3 on their adjacent edges. For purposes of description, stringer 1 hereinafter will be referred to from time to time as the fixed stringer while stringer 2 will be referred to as the movable stringer.

As shown in FIG. 4, slider 4 is located on fixed stringer l and has diverging channels suitable for engaging and disengaging the interlocking elements 3 of the pair of stringers 1 and 2. A member 5 adjacent to the-end of fixed stringer l retains slider 4 on stringer l and positions the pair of stringers 1 and 2 in operating position as will be shown hereinafter. Stringer 2 has projecting means in the form of an elongated projection 6 adjacent the end of movable stringer 2 to cooperate with the fixed stringer member 1 in member 5, which is provided with a socket for seating the elongated projection 6.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the projecting means 6 adjacent the end of movable stringer 2 may have a projection laterally depending therefrom and the member 5 includes second projecting means 5a adjacent having a recess to co-operatively receive the projection when stringers l and 2 are in operating position.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a male element 7 located adjacent the bottom most edge of movable stringer 2 and a female element 8 laterally depending from memher which is adjacent the end of fixed stringer 1 are constructed so that the female element 8 is adapted to lockably accept male element 7 whereby, as is especially shown in FIG. 5, the projecting means 6 adjacent the end of movable stringer 2 after being guided through one of the channels of slider 4 on fixed stringer l is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, then simultaneously seated into member 5 adjacent the end of fixed stringer 1 and locked by the co-operation of elements 7 and 8 into operating position for engagement or disengagement of the co-operating interlocking elements 3 on the adjacent edges of stringers l and 2. The male ele' ment 7 is preferably shaped in the form of a flat tonguelike projection with a convexly curved advancing edge. This edge is easily guided into the female element 8, shaped as a closed loop, which extends transversely from the plane of member 5 at the end of fixed stringer l and laterally thereof to present the opening in the loop 8 in the path of the insertable tongue 7.

This sequence is clearly shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 and as shown, in FIG. 4, when slider 4 is placed in contact with member 5 and, as shown in FIG. 5, when the projecting means 6 enter into slider 4, elements 7 and 8 are automatically in position for the female element to lockably accept the male element which then automatically provides the exact operating position for the zipper to be engaged. It is readily apparent that this feature of my invention will enable a young child to successfully work such a zipper.

In a preferred embodiment, the female element substantially laterally depends transverse to the end of fixed stringer 1 from member 5 adjacent the end of fixed stringer l and is disposed therefrom at an angle of from about 90 to about 150, and preferably from about 90 to about 135. This placement of female element 8 is critical to the proper positioning of the movable stringer with the fixed stringer.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross sections taken along lines 8-8 and 99 of FIG. 4 and show the details of male element 7 and female element 8. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that any similar type of male element and female element that may be adapted to lockably co-operate may be used in place of the actual clasptype arrangement that is depicted herein.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In a particularly preferred embodiment of my invention, this invention provides a zipper adapted to be completely separated at both ends which comprises, in combination, a pair of stringers having co-operating interlocking elements on their adjacent edges, one of said stringers being fixed in position while the remaining stringer is movable with respect thereto, 5 slider located on said fixed stringer and having diverging channels suitable for engaging and disengaging said interlocking elements of said pair of stringers, a member adjacent to the end of said fixed stringer to retain said slider on said stringer and to position said pair of stringers in operating position, projecting means adjacent the end of said movable stringer to co-operate with said fixed stringer member, a male element adjacent the bottom most edge of said movable stringer, and, a female element substantially laterally depending transversely to the end of said fixed stringer from said member adjacent the end of said fixed stringer and disposed therefrom at an angle of from about to about and adapted to lockably accept said male element whereby said projecting means adjacent the end of said movable stringer after being guided through said slider on said fixed stringer is then simultaneously seated into said member adjacent the end of said fixed stringer and locked into operating position for engagement or disengagement of said co-operating interlocking elements on said adjacent edges of said stringers.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiment shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A zipper adapted to be completely separated, which comprises, in combination:

a. a pair of stringers having cooperating interlocking elements on their adjacent edges, one of said stringers being fixed in position while the remaining stringer is movable with respect thereto;

b. a slider located on said fixed stringer having diverging channels suitable for engaging and disengaging said interlocking elements of said pair of stringers;

c. projecting means comprising an elongated projection adjacent to the end of said movable stringer to cooperate with said fixed stringer;

d. a member at the end of said fixed stringer to retain said slider on said stringer and provided with a socket to accommodate said elongated projection and to position said pair of stringers in operating position;

a substantially flat extension projecting laterally from said socket and generally parallel to said fixed stringer,

. a loop spaced from the upper edge of said extension, projecting substantially normally from the surface thereof, and provided with an opening, the entry plane of which extends at an angle from about 90 to 135 relative to the longitudinal axis of said stringers; and

g. a flat tongue-like male element at the free end of said movable stringer and extending below said elongated projection, said element disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said fiat extension and adapted to be readily passed through said loop, whereupon said elongated projection is simultaneously seated within said socket in said member for cooperation of the slider therewith.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the leading edge of said last-mentioned male element is rounded convexly to facilitate the entry of said element into said loop in advance of the entry of said elongated projection into said socket.

k ll i it 

1. A zipper adapted to be compleTely separated, which comprises, in combination: a. a pair of stringers having cooperating interlocking elements on their adjacent edges, one of said stringers being fixed in position while the remaining stringer is movable with respect thereto; b. a slider located on said fixed stringer having diverging channels suitable for engaging and disengaging said interlocking elements of said pair of stringers; c. projecting means comprising an elongated projection adjacent to the end of said movable stringer to cooperate with said fixed stringer; d. a member at the end of said fixed stringer to retain said slider on said stringer and provided with a socket to accommodate said elongated projection and to position said pair of stringers in operating position; e. a substantially flat extension projecting laterally from said socket and generally parallel to said fixed stringer, f. a loop spaced from the upper edge of said extension, projecting substantially normally from the surface thereof, and provided with an opening, the entry plane of which extends at an angle from about 90* to 135* relative to the longitudinal axis of said stringers; and g. a flat tongue-like male element at the free end of said movable stringer and extending below said elongated projection, said element disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said flat extension and adapted to be readily passed through said loop, whereupon said elongated projection is simultaneously seated within said socket in said member for cooperation of the slider therewith.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the leading edge of said last-mentioned male element is rounded convexly to facilitate the entry of said element into said loop in advance of the entry of said elongated projection into said socket. 